A note on yesterday, a teaser for tomorrow and another trip to Coshocton, Ohio

Gratuitous photo of “Lily” my brother’s chocolate labrador retriever, when she was a puppy

Yesterday I went to Skunk Hollow, a rural area of northern Indiana County, Pennsylvania where my brother lives. It’s an Amish area, since the early 40s according to my late Gram, who said she was there when they bought the first farm in the area.

I was there to pick elderberries, but arrived late. I met my brother for lunch in Indiana, then made a detour to Marion Center to take wildflowers to my mom.I picked Queen Anne’s lace along the highway and found wild mustard along a road in town as well as one lone daisy. I debated the wild mustard, because when I used to pick wildflowers to take to my grandmother’s grave, Mom always told me that Grandma was allergic to wild mustard. Mom seemed to like it though. I kept two wild mustard in and just as I was reaching the cemetery I spotted a patch of phlox on the edge of the woods. I asked the caretaker, who was mowing, if he minded my picking a few and he said he didn’t. So here was my bouquet:

Queen Anne’s Lace, wild mustard, daisies and phlox make a bouquet for MomThe Stargate-styled vase we made for Mom, holding wildflowers

I dead-headed the geraniums that were growing in front of Mom and Grandma Hazel‘s shared grave and put the bouquet in the Stargate-styled vase we had made for Mom. The plug to keep the water in has since disappeared, so it takes a little finagling with a baggie to actually hold water these days.

I sat in the grass and talked at the stones for awhile until I received a text from my niece that she was going to meet me at my brother’s to visit me while I picked elderberries.

My grandmother’s stone has been here since the 1970s. Mom wanted to be buried with her but she didn’t want her marker to be higher than her mother’s, so we created a base marker for Mom and had the Stargate vase made to sit offset by grandma Hazel’s

If I’ve learned nothing else, it’s that the living take precedence over the dead. And this would be a triple visit. My niece would be bringing along her daughter, Adeline and carrying my next grand-niece or nephew, due in December.

I managed to fill my 5-gallon Steeler’s bucket, but I don’t have much time before I leave for Orange County next week, and elderberries are much more time consuming to prepare than other berries, so I stopped at that.

Dogsitting at my brother’s a couple years ago.

Baxter played with my brother’s 3 labrador retrievers, Casey, Lovey and Lilly. He got his butt handed to him by their cat, Reba for trying to eat her food, and I got a beautiful day with Brianna and Adeline.

My niece, Brianna and her daughter, Adeline waving to Baxter

At home we made plans for a trip to Coshocton today, to look at neighborhoods and houses. Kurt’s nickname is “Frugal Druzgal” and he earns it by staying hardcore under his per diem rate for most jobs. It often, but not always, is in opposition to my own desire for location above all else. When I want to get to know a new town, I want to live downtown, in the heart of what’s historic and be within walking distance of rivers or canals or old shops.

In the meantime I dug out my Mehu-Liisa steamer for doing elderberries tomorrow. You might remember we left off by putting those elderberries in the fridge after they were rinsed and forked from the stems. This is the best investment I’ve ever made when it comes to fruit that you can’t pit and don’t want to use the pulp. I use it every year for elderberries, as well as grapes, cherries and something else I’ll surprise you with.

3 thoughts on “A note on yesterday, a teaser for tomorrow and another trip to Coshocton, Ohio”

Sounds like you had a great time and these dogs are adorable! I am a big dog lover and have two dogs of my own, Zeus and Lucky. They are so funny, loving, and snuggly! I love them with all of my heart and soul! My name is Melissa Crowley and I am on a mission to save my favorite dog! I have started a blog for my Rottweiler Zeus called Saving Zeus. He has a rare genetic disorder and we are trying to raise funds for the medical tests and treatment that he desperately needs. Also on my blog, I have funny stories and really cute photos of both of my boys. If you would like to make a donation or share our blog to help us save Zeus, or would just like a laugh after reading a funny story, visit my page. Since I am just getting started on my blog, there will be many more stories to come so check back every once in a while!